The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 22, 2011
Filed:
Feb. 17, 2005
Suture retainer with multiple circumferentially spaced attachment points and suture retention method
James E. Jervis, Atherton, CA (US);
James E. Jervis, Atherton, CA (US);
Anpa Medical, Inc., San Mateo, CA (US);
Abstract
The suture retainer according to one aspect of the invention has a retainer body and a plurality of suture attachment mechanisms spaced circumferentially about the retainer body, each of the suture attachment mechanisms (such as a pair of teeth) being adapted to hold a suture strand at a discrete attachment point. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of securing a suture in a suture retainer, including the following steps: providing a suture retainer having a retainer body and a plurality of suture attachment mechanisms spaced circumferentially about the retainer body; and attaching a suture strand to the retainer body at each of the suture attachment mechanisms. Yet another aspect of the invention provides a suturing method including the steps of: attaching a first end of a suture strand to a suture retainer; contacting a tissue contact portion of the suture strand with tissue to be sutured, the tissue contact portion being disposed between the first end of the suture strand and a second end of the suture strand; and attaching the second end of the suture strand to the suture retainer at a plurality of suture attachment points spaced circumferentially about the suture retainer.